A streetside glimpse of India from Bangalore - no paid news, no lobbying, no plants, no stringing along - just pure viewpoints. My own political education. Satire Alert (At times)!
Because, nothing is permanent, only interim!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

YAOLC is going to be launchedin 3 years...YAOLC? Yet Another One Lakh Car. Get it?

Once upon a time, Ratan Tata visualized the 1 lakh car - now known as the Nano. Many laughed at him, some behind him and many derided it. But then, he and his team went ahead and delivered it anyway.

And now you have the spectacle of yet another 1 lakh car YAOLC. Now, first point is that anything that aims to be YAOLC will be a me-too product. Once Maggi 2 minute noodles was launched, no other 2 (or 1.5 or 3) minute noodle could be Maggi (and many tried that and continue to do so). Unless there is a game changer.

So, Bajaj two things, please don't burn up the wires for YAOLC which will see the light in 3 years or call it something else. By then the Nano will be available in the second hand market for the price of a bike (or less). And god forbid for your project, in an electric avatar. Car sales may have zoomed in October, but petrol aint gonna last us forever...

An idiot bloggers humble suggestion - go for something more radical than the YAOLC, something BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal as Tom Peters would say) perhaps for a 1l akh electric car or something that you promise you will replace all your rickshaws with. Now that will make people sit up and take notice and maybe your marketing will get done for free too...